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Hot, humid weather has continued. Any day that includes a life bird is likely to be a good day. The YT Warbler has eluded me for years, so even a poor image will do.

I’ve been spending most of my time at CBEC because it’s open early and has a good variety of birds. The warbler was most unexpected, and other birds have been appearing, so it’s been a worthwhile journey.

I’ll include several days worth of images here, as I’m a bit behind on posting.

I’ve been stopping at Kent Narrows to check out the dawn horizon.

A family of 4 Red Headed Woodpeckers is nesting near the boat racks.

This Red Winged Blackbird is grooming her feathers.

The owners tell me there are several Turkey families at CBEC.

There’s at least 4 Green Herons foraging at CBEC.

4 Canada Geese seem to be spending the Summer at CBEC.

Only a few Snowy Egrets have been apearing.

This is only the second Orchard Oriole I’ve seen at CBEC.

A single Great Egret flew over the lake.

2 Osprey chicks have successfully fledged.

Several Eastern Kingbirds are busy feeding in the treetops.

It’s a poor image, but my first look at a Yellow Throated Warbler.

This Fox and I rounded the corner simultaneously.

An original scarecrow protects the garden.

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I started at Sandy Point again, and quickly decided it was going to be a dull sky. It’s the hour before dawn that makes the best photos, so I headed to Kent Narrows in hopes of better conditions. I found a more attractive sky and a nice Heron.

I got to CBEC around dawn, and looked around for the Turkeys, who weren’t in sight. When I got to the end of the path near the grandstand, I saw a Turkey tail disappear around the corner, and walked rapidly toward the area. I got another glimpse, but began to think I had been unlucky, when I saw the Turkeys and a distant figure, who turned out to be Diana, fellow birder and photographer. We spent several minutes photographing the birds, who were unusually cooperative. These are the minutes that make the heat, the early hours and the frequent frustration worthwhile. I suspect if we were all privileged to see nature in action, it would be a better world.

We circled the lake and found the Red Headed Woodpecker and several other birds, including Brown Headed Nuthatches, who have been scarce recently.

I’m including images from other outings in the past week or so.

Dawn at Kent Narrows.

It’s quite dark at Kent Narrows when I arrive, and this Black Crowned Night Heron is living up to his name.

Yellow Breasted Chats will be heading South soon.

The Greenbury Indigo Bunting isn’t usually this cooperative.

Ebird flagged this Red Headed Woodpecker as “infrequent”.

Great Crested Flycatchers are often hard to find at CBEC.

This Cardinal photo illustrates how bright the Sun was.

Wild Turkeys! It’s always a treat to find these birds.

A poor look at an Eastern Kingbird.

Brown Headed Nuthatch, a little too far away.

Two Snowy Egrets were fishing in the lake.

A dozen Canada Geese were hanging out with the Egrets.

Diana Linnekin, MD Nature photographer.

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It’s been two weeks since I posted anything here. This is the worst time of year for birding in MD. Most birds have finished nesting, some are even heading South by now. The Tree Sparrows at CBEC seemed to vanish overnight.

It’s also been damn hot, and I’ve been quitting early for several days.

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Graeme Simpson, his wife Pamela, and I went to Machias Seal Island last week to see Puffins and other sea birds, not to mention the seals. In 6 days, starting on June 29, we drove to Cutler Maine, where we got a boat to the island, then returned. We stopped at Acadia National Park, Plum Island and Acadia National Forest along the way. There were varying degrees of success along the way, but Machias Island was better than we could have hoped. I’ve got too many photos and too many stories for one post, so I’ll have to finish this as I can.

Warning sign at the landing.

The lighthouse at Cutler Harbor.

The lighthouse on Machias Seal Island.

Pamela points out a bird at Acadia.

Graeme and Pamela at an Acadia vista.

Common Murres were, indeed, common.

Two Common Murres and a Razorbill.

This Eagle pair was perched in a tree at the Harbor entrance.

Arctic Tern with chick.

A lone Northern Gannet was visible on the island.

Female Common Eiders with chicks were feeding near shore.

I was surprised to see many Savannah Sparrows. I was told they had Baltimore Orioles as well.

We found a Black Throated Green Warbler in Acadia,

Apparently, Dark Eyed Juncos spend the Summer in Acadia.

We saw at least 5 Northern Parulas.

This Raven seems to have found an egg.

Many Razorbills were hanging out on the island.

Razorbills often engage in “Bill Crossing.”

Common Eiders are breeding on the island.

A lone Northern Gannet was visible on the island.

Atlantic Puffins were in the air and the water everywhere you looked.

Puffins nest in natural burrows, or excavate their own.

Atlantic Puffins were in the air and the water everywhere you looked.

Gray Seals and Harbor seals were numerous in the area.

Graeme Simpson waiting for the trip to begin.

A visit to the head requires a “Tern Stick”. Terns are very protective of their nests, and will harass anything that comes near. The stick distracts them.